USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 8
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ing effects of this change in the policy of their rulers. They were even in a state of uncertainty during the most of the year 1660, whether arrangements had not been made for their re-transfer to the Company. As a consequence, many disorders ensued, among which jangling and quarreling among the offi- cials were the most prominent. As a means of averting the evils with which the colony was surrounded, days of public thanksgiving were occasionally ob- served, but this year the ungodly council of New Amstel commanded that "a fast and prayer day should be holden on the first Monday of each month."
Sheriff Vandyck estimates the number of men in the "Swedish and Fin- nish nation" capable of bearing arms, at 130. Some of them were allowed to be enlisted as soldiers, while at the very same time an order from Stuyvesant was in force to collect them all into one or two villages. Preparatory to carry- ing this unjust and unreasonable order into execution, Beekman spent a few days amongst the Swedes and Finns, and found that different settlements could not converse with each other, "for want of a knowledge of their reciprocal language." There was a difference of opinion between the settlers about Aroumerk and those of Keneses, as to which was the more eligible for the proposed Swedish village. It was argued against the latter "that there was no defence whatever, neither a place for safe retreat, as considerable under- wood and many streams must be passed:" and in favor of Aroumerk, that "there is a pretty large kill, which might be chosen to cover a retreat or pre- pare for defence." Besides, "at Arounderyk they might cultivate their fields on the other side of the kill, on the Passayung road, where is a rich, fruitful soil, and last harvest a considerable quantity of seed was sowed." He found some willing to compromise, by accepting the proposals, while others were for maintaining their own rights, in keeping their own farms and lots. Miss Printz, (as Mrs. Papegoya is usually called by the Dutch writers,) was among the lat- ter. She could not remove her residence, "the heavy building not permitting her to change it, and the church where she usually worships being upon that spot." She says further that "she offers her lands without any compensation, but can nevertheless induce no person to settle in her neighborhood."
Finding that the Swedes could not agree among themselves, Beekman commanded a list to be delivered to him within eight or ten days, designating where it suits best for every person to fix his future residence promising his assent in case it comported with the Governor's order, otherwise he would be compelled to designate where each of them should reside. At the urgent re- quest of the Swedes, from four to six weeks more time was granted, Miss Printz and others requesting Beekman to aid them: for which purpose, he informs Stuyvesant, "more soldiers will be required." At the solicitation of the Swedish commissaries, Beekman asks permission from the governor to al- low the Swedish nation "to remain in their present possessions till they have harvested their corn." He had understood that they intended to unite them in one village at Perslajough, &c. Peter Kock, Peter Andrieson and Hans Moen- son were among those who took a decided stand against removing to Passa- yunk. There was not sufficient land obtained there "for the pasture of their
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creatures," and they "ardently wished not to remove." They add, "if com- pelled to go, then we will go, or depart to a spot where we may live in peace."
Beekman eventually became convinced of the injustice of the order for removing the Swedes into one village. He represented to Stuyvesant that it was "unmerciful to force people from their cultivated lands and put them to new labor and expense." The Swedes were therefore allowed to remain at their respective settlements-a result not brought about by any kind feelings entertained towards them by the Director-general. Persuasion had failed, and as for compulsion, the means were not at hand. The Swedes outnumbered the Dutch on the river, and within the territory of the company very few if any Dutch had settled. Dissensions were also rapidly growing between the of- ficials of the two colonies. More favorable privileges being offered by D'Hin- oyossa, a number of Swedes had joined the City Colony, and others had re- moved to Sassafras river. Apprehensions that the whole Swedish territory would be abandoned may also have had some weight in suspending the opera- tion of this iniquitous measure.
The Dutch having got into difficulties with the Esopus Indians on the North river, sent to the Swedes and Finns for recruits. They could not be persuaded to go to Esopus as soldiers; though "they would not be unwilling, provided they could remain there in peace with the savages." The sheriff, Vandyck, and some of the commissaries, are accused with discouraging and actually preventing some individuals from emigrating to Esopus.
Miss Printz, instead of her recognitions (taxes), requests permission to make payment in a fat ox, fat hogs, bread and corn.
The seat of justice for the company's jurisdiction was at Altona, where annually three or four courts were held, "as circumstances might require." Among the Finns was a married couple who lived together in constant strife, the wife being daily beaten and "often expelled from the house like a dog." A divorce was solicited by the priest, the neighbors, the sheriff and commis- saries, on behalf of these parties, and that their small property and stock be divided between them. The matter was referred to the governor, but the re- sult is not known. As the parties were Finns, they probably resided in the vi- cinity of Marcus Hook.
About this time, mention is made of Israel Helm carrying on trade at Passayunk. He took a prominent part in the transactions on the river till some time after the arrival of Penn.
Beekman becomes alarmed in consequence of a threatened war between the Indians and the English of Maryland, and is apprehensive that the savages will again claim and take possession of these lands, or that they will be event- ually settled with English and Swedes.
A war is at this time in progress between the Senecas and Minquas In- dians, the small-pox being prevalent in the latter nation at the same time. Great alarm spread among the European inhabitants, which was fully shared by the Swedes for the Senecas were as little known to them as to the Dutch.
During the early part of this year, the common council of the city of Am-
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sterdam, by means of commissioners appointed for that purpose, went into a thorough examination of the causes that had heretofore defeated all their efforts to render the colony of new Amstel prosperous. The result was a ne- gotiation with the West India Company for an amplification of the privileges of the city in respect to trade ; of the powers of the local government render- ing it less dependent on the Director-general ; and an extension of their terri- tory, so as to embrace the east side of the river as high up as their present limits extended, and the west side to Upland kill.
The introduction of negroes as laborers had now become more general on the river. As early as 1657 complaints were made against Vice-director Al- richs "for using the company's oxen and negroes," and in a letter from Beek- man to Director-general Stuyvesant, dated March 18, 1662, he "solicits most seriously" that his Honor "would accommodate him with a company of ne- groes, as he is very much in want of them in many respects."
A corn-mill was now in the course of erection at "Turtle Falls, about one and a half miles (Dutch) from Fortress Altona," on condition, however, "that the garrison should not pay for their grist." A mill of some kind was in ex- istence at New Amstel called a Rosmolen (Ross mill,) to which the people of Altona resorted, or when they could not be served, were compelled to go to the old "Swedish mill" at the distance of six miles (Dutch) from Altona. This old Swedish mill was the mill built by Governor Printz, on Cobb's creek.
The West India Company having assented to a favorable modification of the conditions under which the City of Amsterdam held its colony, and the city having agreed to furnish pecuniary aid to emigrants, a reasonable pros- spect was presented that immigration in that direction would proceed with great rapidity. Among those who were allured by the proposed advantages was a community of Mennonists, who proposed to plant themselves at Hore- kill. Their articles of association are remarkably singular. The associators were to be married men or single men twenty-four years old. Clergymen were excluded from the community, as were also "all intractable people-such as those in communion with the Roman See : usurious Jews ; English stiff-necked Quakers ; Puritans; fool-hardy believers in the Millennium; and obstinate modern pretenders to revelation." Laws, subject to the approval of the au- thorities of the City of Amsterdam, could be passed by the votes of two-thirds of the members, but no magistrate was to be allowed any compensation for his services-"not even a stiver." Enticed by the favorable terms offered to emigrants by the City of Amsterdam, sixteen or eighteen families. chiefly Finns, had embraced them by removing within its jurisdiction. They were to be eighteen years free from tax, and to have their own judges and religion, while at the same time they meant to retain the lands from which they emi- grated.
It appears that towards the close of 1662, "Miss Printz (Mrs. Pape- goya,) made a conveyance of the Island of Tinicum to a Mr. LaGrange, and had received from him a bill of exchange as part of the purchase money, which bill was protested. Beekman visited Tinicum for the purpose of arrang-
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ing the matter, but after using every exertion failed. From this transaction much litigation ensued, which was not ended till after the government passed into the hands of Penn. The letter of Beekman, communicating this matter to Stuyvesant, is dated at "Tinneconk, N. Leyden," December 23rd, 1662.
Harmonious action between the officers of the city and those of the Com- pany was not established by the new arrangement entered into between the parties. It became apparent that a joint occupancy of the river must ever be attended with difficulties that would prevent the rapid settlement of the coun- try, and would materially interfere with the prosperity of the colonists. Un- der this impression, the burgomasters of the city, in the early part of 1663, made application to the Company for authority to extend their jurisdiction "from the sea upwards as far as the river stretches." After considerable ne- gotiation a cession was accordingly made to the city, embracing a margin of nine miles on the coast, and extending to the English colony on the west side of the river, on conditions that made its colony almost wholly independent of the Company. The cession was not however actually made till near the close of the year, until which time Beekman continued to perform the duties of his office.
A trade had sprung up between the Colony of the City and the Mary- landers, which under the new arrangement that excluded the company's offi- cials from the river, the city hoped to extend; it having been offered by the English, in case they would trade with them, "to make a little slit in the door" whereby they could be reached overland. In a proposal submitted by the commissioners to the burgomasters of the city, cargoes amounting to from thirty-five to thirty-six thousand guilders are estimated for this trade and that of the Indians. In the same document it is especially urged that a contract be immediately made for fifty head of slaves, "for procuring which the West In- dia Company had a ship ready to sail." These slaves were ordered in pursu- ance of a report made by Director Alexander d'Hinoyosa, who regarded them as "particularly adapted to the preparation of the valleys which are found exceedingly fertile."
Hendrick Huygens, the commissary, is about to remove from N. Leyden, which was on Tinicum. He probably fixed his residence at Upland, as he re- ports to Beekman "a horrid deed" that was committed at that place by a Finn named Jan Hendrickson against "the honest Juriaen Kuys Sneart, whom he had cruelly beaten."
The Swedes entertained a more kindly feeling towards the officials of the City Colony than towards those of the Company, which appears to have been reciprocated; for no sooner is the authority of the city extended over the Swedish settlements than we find Peter Kock, a Swede, appointed to the im- portant trust of "collector of tolls on imports and exports from the Colony of the City," and Israel [ Helm,] another Swede, to superintend the fur trade at the upper end of Passayunk.
Mrs. Papegoya is now absent from the river, but the precise time she left, is not mentioned. Israel [Helm], who appears to have accompanied this lady
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to Sweden, returned early in December with D'Hinoyosa and Peter Alrichs, who had been on a visit to Fatherland. A formal transfer of the whole river was immediately made by Stuyvesant to D'Hinoyosa, who received it on be- half of the burgomasters of the city of Amsterdam. The burgomasters did not, however, accept of this enlargement of their American possessions with- out apprehension that the whole might not soon be rescued from them; but they did not discern the real source of danger. News of the fitting out of a secret expedition in Sweden had reached Governor Stuyvesant, and could not have been unknown in Holland. A demand was also formally made by the resident Swedish minister at the Hague for a restoration of New Sweden to the Swedish Company which clearly shows the real object of the expedition. But a series of maritime disasters that befell the ships composing the expedi- tion, and forced their return-disasters in which Stuyvesant saw "the hand of God,"-relieved the Dutch "from all apprehension and dread," and saved our land from again passing under the dominion of the Swedes.
During the exclusive exercise of Dutch rule on the Delaware, the personal intercourse existing between the Dutch and Swedish inhabitants was no doubt friendly ; but the government looked upon the Swedes with suspicion and dis- trust, and adopted tyrannical and oppressive regulations in respect to them. Had all these regulations been rigidly enforced by the local authorities, it would probably have resulted in a general exodus of the Swedes and Finns to Maryland.
Ecclesiastical affairs during this period present rather a gloomy aspect. Two of the three Swedish priests on the river at the time of the Dutch con- quest left with Rysingh, or shortly afterwards. The standing of the one who remained and who doubtless had charge of the church at Tinicum, as well as of that at Christina, was not during this period well calculated to elevate the morals of his flock. We may sympathize with this man on account of the wrongs he suffered, but our sympathy will be tempered by the belief that had he lived a life more in accordance with his holy functions, he would not have fallen into the hands of his persecutors. Such as he was, he was the only one in the country, and "served both the Swedes and the Dutch."
Towards the close of the Dutch dynasty, the Swedes made an effort to supercede the Rev. Laers by the appointment of Albelius Zetzcoven, or Sels- koorn, but the opposition made by the reverend incumbent was so strong that no permanent position appears to have been assigned to him. This gentleman preached at the Tinicum church on the last Monday of Pentecost, at the re- quest of the Swedish commissaries. They desired to engage him as a school- master at the same salary given to the Rev. Laers, but the people of New Amstel, where it may be inferred he was employed in the same capacity. would not dismiss him. He never had charge of any congregation on the South river as a regularly ordained minister.
While the city and the Company occupied the country jointly, the seat of justice of the latter jurisdiction was at Altona. The Swedes did not resort voluntarily to the court held there, preferring to settle their differences among
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themselves, and in one or two instances they willfully disregarded its pro- cesses.
Horses and cattle were sent over by the Company and by the city in great numbers. These were distributed among the settlers, to be returned at the end of four or five years, with one half of the increase. The Swedes consti- tuting almost exclusively the agricultural population of the river, a large pro- portion of these animals was distributed among them.
The time had now arrived when the dominion of our favored land was to be wrested from the Dutch, and, with the exception of a short interval-for- ever. The crown of Great Britain having been restored to Charles II., he granted to his brother James, Duke of York, the territory embracing the whole of New York and New Jersey, and, by a subsequent grant, that which now comprises the State of Delaware. To secure the possession of his newly ac- quired territory, the Duke fitted out an expedition consisting of four men-of- war and four hundred and fifty men, which he placed under the command of Col. Richard Nicolls. With the commander were united Sir Robert Carr, Sir George Cartwright and Samuel Maverick, Esq., to act as commissioners, to receive possession, settle boundaries, &c. The expedition reached the mouth of the Hudson in the latter end of August, and, after considerable negotiation, New Amsterdam and its immediate dependencies were surrendered to the English, September 8th, without firing a gun. The settlements on the Dela- ware being now under a government wholly independent of the West India Company, they were not included in the capitulation of New Amsterdam. Sir Robert Carr was immediately dispatched with a sufficient force to effect their capture. Arriving there on the last day of September, he sailed past the forts, "the better to satisfie the Swede, who, notwithstanding the Dutches per- suasion to ye contrary were soone their frinds." After three days' parley the burghers and townsmen yielded to the demands of the English on terms favor- able to themselves and the Swedes, but the governor, D'Hinoyosa, and sol- diery, refused every proposition, although the fort was in a bad condition, and defended by only fifty men. "Whereupon," says Sir Robert in his official dis- patch, "I landed my soldiers on Sonday morning following and commanded ye shipps to fall down before ye fort wthin muskett shott, wth directions to fire two broadsides apeace uppon ye Fort, then my soldiers to fall on. Which done ye soldiers neaver stoping untill they stormed ye Fort, and sae conse- quently to plundering : the seamen, noe less given to that sporte, were quickly wthin, and have gotten good store of booty." The loss on the part of the Dutch was three killed and ten wounded ; on the part of the English, none.
The articles of agreement entered into between Sir Robert Carr, acting on behalf of his Majesty of Great Britain, and the burgomasters, secured to the planters and burghers protection in their estates, both real and personal ; the continuance of the present magistrates in their offices and jurisdiction ; the liberty of conscience in church discipline as formerly ; together with "the privi- lege of trading into any of his Majesties dominions as freely as any English- man," after having taken the oath of allegiance.
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The general system of plunder that ensued upon the surrender of the fort, was disgraceful to the commander, and his excuse that "in such a noise and confusion noe words of command could be heard for some tyme," affords better evidence of the enormity of the transaction than of any sincere disposi- tion on his part to have prevented it. No less than forty horses, sixty cows and oxen, one hundred sheep, and from sixty to seventy negroes, were included in the plunder. Sir Robert appropriated to his own use the farm of D'Hinoyosa, his brother, Captain John Carr, took possession of that of Sheriff Van Swer- ingen, while Ensign Stock possessed himself of "Peter Alrich's land." But the possessions of the local officers, which were regarded as legitimate booty, were not sufficient to gratify the cupidity of all who wore epaulets in the ex- pedition. To satisfy the claims of the two captains-Hyde and Morley-Sir Robert granted to them "the Manour of Grimstead, situated near the head of the said river Delaware in America."
The conduct of Sir Robert Carr subsequently to the capture of the fort, did not meet with the approbation of Col. Nicolls. In his report to the Secre- tary of State he speaks disparagingly of his selfish conduct in respect to the plunder, and particularly of his presumption in appropriating "the prize to himself." and of "disposing of the confiscations of the houses, farmes and stocks to whom he doth think fitt." The Colonel soon visited the Delaware to attend to the interests of his sovereign. Captain Robert Needham was sub- sequently deputed to the command of the Delaware.
With the change of masters, the name of New Amsterdam was changed to New York, and that of New Amstel to New Castle.
Even before the Duke of York had acquired the possession of his Ameri- can territory, he conveyed all that portion of it which now constitutes the State of New Jersey, to Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. At the time of the English conquest of the Delaware, the settlements on the east side of the river were so few that no notice is taken of them in any account of the transaction, that has come under my notice. Col. Nicolls acted as governor of both New York and the Delaware. The Swedes were benefited by the change in the government, as under the new order of things, nearly all restrictions on their trade were removed. But independent of any pecuniary advantage, they must have felt a secret satisfaction in seeing their ancient enemies, the Dutch, humbled.
Beavers still continued to be used as currency : and, in the payment for imported goods, the standard value fixed on each beaver, by the governor, was guilders, or 135. 4d. The export duty on beavers was 101/2 per cent .. on to- bacco, two cents per pound. In 1666, an order was issued by Col. Nicolls granting a temporary immunity from all duties, for the purpose of encourag- ing trade.
In July of this year, an order was issued by the Court of Assizes of New York, which applied to the country on the Delaware, for a renewal of all the old patents that had been granted for land. and that those who had no patents. should be supplied.
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Col. Nicolls performed the duties of governor both of New York and its dependencies on the Delaware for about three years. He was succeeded by Col. Francis Lovelace in May, 1667. The administration of Nicolls was con- ducted with prudence and judgment, his efforts being especially directed to the promotion of trade. There was no popular representation in the government. "In the governor and his subservient council were vested the executive and the highest judicial powers; with the Court of Assizes, composed of justices of his own appointment, he exercised supreme legislative power, promulgated a code of laws and modified and repealed them at pleasure." The laws thus enacted and promulgated, called the "Duke's Laws," were collected out of the several laws then in force in the British American colonies, and if not an im- provement on these laws, they are divested of the worst features of some of them.
This year, a Swedish church was erected at Crane Hook, at which Mr. Lock officiated as well as at the church at Tinicum.
On April 21, 1668, the government at New York adopted "Resolutions and directions for the settlement of a garrison on the Delaware." Under this head, directions were given that it was only "necessary to hold up the name and countenance of a garrison, with 20 men and one commissioned officer." But the more important matter of establishing courts of justice was also con- tained in the "Resolutions and Directions." To prevent "all abuses or oppo- sitions in civil matter, so often as complaint is made. the commission officer Capt. Carre, shall call the scout wth Hans Block, Israel Helm, Peter Rambo, Peter Cock, Peter Alrich, or any two of them as counsellors, to advise, hear and determine, by the major vote, what is just, equitable and necessary, in the case or cases in question." It was besides directed "that the same persons also, or any two or more of them, he called to advise and direct what is best to be done in all cases of difficulty, which may arise from the Indians, and to give their counsel and orders for the arming of the several plantations and planters, who must obey and attend their summons, upon such occasions." "That the Fynes or Preminires and light offences be executed with moderation, though it is also necessary that all men be punished in exemplary manner." The commissioned officer, Capt. Carr, when the votes were equal, was to have a casting vote. It was also ordained "that the laws of the government estab- lished by his Royal highness, be showed and frequently communicated to the said counsellors and all others, to the end that being therewith acquainted, the practyce of them may also, in convenient time be established wch conducteth to the publique welfare and common justice."
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